AMBLESIDE demonstrated they are an emerging force in fell running by pushing Borrowdale hard to finish second in Sunday's Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay.

Over the first two legs of this 25 mile race, which involves 8,500ft of climb, Ambleside were within striking distance of the pre-race favourites and course record holders.

Mark Rigby and Nick Sharp were just 13 seconds adrift of the Borrowdale pairing of Andy Schofield and Andrew Davies after leg one - which goes over St Sunday Crag - and Stephen Savage and Norman Drinkall worked hard on leg two, from Patterdale to Hartsop, to keep the South Lakeland team in contention just 56 seconds behind.

They were helped by the fact that Borrowdale's Phil Davies badly turned his ankle and was clearly struggling as he came into Hartsop alongside Mark Roberts.

From then on Borrowdale took control with Gavin Bland and Ben Bardsley extending the lead to over five minutes on the run over High Street to the back of the Kirkstone Pass Inn against Ambleside's Mark Fleming and Paul Singleton.

Jonathan Fish and Stuart Shuttleworth also lost ground on Jim Davies and Jonathan Bland with Borrowdale crossing the finishing line almost 14 minutes clear.

Kendal's vets retained their title following a fascinating duel with Cumberland Fell Runners who held the lead after the first leg and were just two minutes and 13 seconds behind at the finish.

The Kendal team was made up of Billy Procter and Dave Houlsworth; Mike Walsh and Alec McDaid; Phil Whiting and Allan Miller and Phil Clark and Chris Speight.

Borrowdale achieved the fastest times on all four legs and they were as follows: Andy Schofield and Andrew Davies, 1-07-06; 2 Phil Davies and Mark Roberts, 35-49; 3 Ben Bardsley and Gavin Bland, 1-04-27; 4 Jim Davies and Jonathan Bland, 47-38.

RESULTS: 1 Borrowdale, 3-35-00; 2 Ambleside, 3-48-54; 3 Pudsey & Bramley, 3-51-14; 4 Lothian 3-51-51; 5 Dark Peak, 3-59-40; 6 Clayton 4-03-04; 7 Kendal Vets, 4-05-43; 14 Howgill, 4-28-10; 17 Kendal A, 4-30-21; 23 Kendal Vets B 4-38-16; 27 Ambleside Vets, 4-52-40.

FIVE Kendal AC runners - Kelli Roberts, Rebecca Robinson, Chris Doyle, Lee Siemaszco and Joe Symonds - represent England in the British Junior Home International races at Sedbergh on Sunday.

In addtion to the Under-16 and Under-18 races for boys and girls there are open races for those ages and Under-14s and Seniors (1.30pm start).